Scenes from a revolution: 65 years of Magnum photography

Iran (1979): Opposition to the Shah, the hereditary monarch of Iran,
was already widespread by 1977, among a loose alliance of rebel Islamicists,
Marxists and nationalists. They were led by the Ayatollah Khomeini, living
in exile at the time. He spread revolt via cassette tapes that were smuggled
into the country. As demonstrators took to the streets, the Shah responded
by appointing a military government but it failed to stem the rising tide.
Eventually he fled the country and Khomenei made his comeback, instituting
an Islamic Republic. Cars were often targets for rioters, they were seen as
symbolic of the sin of idolising the monarchy.